Jan. 9, 2003
COLUMBIA, Mo. -
The #11 Missouri Tigers wrestling team will host the Missouri Valley College Vikings, Missouri Baptist College Spartans and the Lindenwood University Lions in the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse in a triple dual meet tomorrow, Friday January 10, in the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse at 6:00 pm.
This will be Mizzou's (6-3) first home dual meet of the new year and second home dual of the season. The first home dual meet this season on December 15 saw the Tigers sweep Central Missouri State, 41-12 and Princeton, 37-6.
Missouri will face Missouri Baptist starting at 6:00 pm. Then take on Missouri Valley at approximately 7:30 and then close by facing Lindenwood at approximately 8:45.
All three Tiger opponents are NAIA member institutions. All three opponents are ranked in the latest NAIA Coaches Association poll.
The Lions lead the way with the top ranking in the poll. The Lions have been the premier NAIA wrestling program over the last several years, winning the NAIA National title last season. Lions Head Coach Joe Parisi returns six all-Americans, including three individual champions from last years squad. They have nine wrestlers ranked in the top ten of the NAIA individual poll. Brent Bruner (133 lbs.) and Chad Smith (157 lbs.) are both ranked first in their respected weight classes.
The Missouri Valley College Vikings are currently ranked third in the NAIA poll. Last season Viking Head Coach Mike Machholz led his team to a fifth place finish at the NAIA National Championships. The Vikings have five wrestlers ranked in the NAIA individual poll. 141-pounder Josh Pulsifer leads the way with the top ranking in his weight class.
The Missouri Baptist College Spartans are also ranked in the NAIA poll, they hold a #18 ranking this season. Last season was their first competing at the NAIA ranks and considered one the up and coming NAIA programs under Head Coach Thomas Smith.
Missouri has a combined record of 12 wins, zero losses and one tie in their history against Lindenwood and Missouri Valley. The lone tie occured during the 2000-01 season when Missouri Valley tied the Tigers 19-19.
Last season the Tigers defeated the Vikings 38-7. The Tigers haven't faced the Lions in dual competition since the 2000-01 season, with the Tigers coming out on top, 22-19.
Missouri Baptist has never faced the Tigers in a dual meet.